What is new light?
To answer this question, we must look at the Scriptures to find the Truth on this subject. There is so much to learn within the scriptures, so there is always new light been revealed to every reader. This is even more so, as every individual person studies the Scriptures for themselves. Everyone is at different levels in their faith. Some have good understanding of truth, others are just starting out in their learning of God’s Word, and some are in between, yet some may even have truth and error.
When we study, we are always learning. Yes, as we all study, we learn something new. This is not just for the preachers and teachers; this is the same for everyone that studies the Scriptures with sincerity of heart. We all learn new things in the study of Scripture. The new things we learn will help us realise we need to turn from our ways, things we may have miss understood, or from incorrect doctrines. We may even learn the completeness of a belief, and so on.
Is there new light. Yes, there really is. However, we must understand this within the Scriptures. Note this verse. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3. What does, “which thou knowest not,” mean? It is very simple to understand. There are things in the Scriptures that we know not of. If we know not of, then what God shows us, it is new light to us. Yet how does new light come. As the verse says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3. Note also, I Corinthians 2:10, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” Yes, we need to call upon God in prayer, whenever we study the Scriptures. “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.” Psalms 25:14. “Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.” Isaiah 48:6.
Is there Scriptural New Light outside of Scripture? No, not so. We will go to the Bible and see what God has Said. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:2. “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” Deuteronomy 12:32. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18-19.
New light is new light to those who have not heard of something before. To them it is new light. New light from scripture, is only new because we haven’t heard of it before, or understood a particular subject before, or even understood a particular subject in its fullest truth.
With anything we learn, and anything that is brought before us, that is new light to us, we must test or try the subject with all sincerity of heart in the LORD. We pray God for the Holy Spirits leading in Jesus’ Holy name and study the Scriptures keeping and building within the precept of the subject. Always remembering to take every concern and question to the LORD who gave us His Word. Our sincerity of heart can, and will, in most cases, be tested. Do you really trust God with a thus sayest the LORD? This question is asked simply because we must let go of our own understanding and lean fully on God, by asking and trusting Him to help us see whether these things are so, or not so, that have been brought before us.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Isaiah 28:10.
When we truly call upon the LORD God, He opens our eyes to help us see the message He wants us to know from His Word. The light of truth has always been with us, since God blessed us to have His Word in our hands. One thing is very important for us to remember, outside the scriptures there is no new message. We have the truth with us already. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:3-7.
Our Greatest example is Christ. Christ said to those that should have known the Word, If any man will do his will (God’s will), he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John 7:17.
We should never chide with someone about something they have said or written about from the Scriptures. We could offer Bible studies with them if they are known the be biblically incorrect. Yet this should be done in the greatest understanding of mercy and with prayer. Sadly, many are set to chide with people, rather than to go to the LORD. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 2 Timothy 2:23. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:3-6. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: Philippians 2: 13-14. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. Titus 3:9-11.
Asking someone if they have new light, never really answers the question. Perhaps should I say, by asking, it never truly gives the one asking peace of mind. It is only by sincerity of heart we study, first by asking God for His leading. Then let Him lead us in His Word of truth, for the truth on any subject in question. God will lead us with His Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus to the truth of the matter. Yet if we study to prove ourselves right and the other wrong, you may be, or more likely be left in your Own understanding, yet not in God’s truth or in completeness of the truth.
John the Baptist was never told directly by Jesus, that He was the one they were looking for, during his time of doubt, while in prison. Even though John himself declared that Jesus was “… the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. While in prison, when John started to doubt, he sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the one they were looking for. Jesus never answered John by saying, I am the one. No, not once did Jesus tell the two disciples of John, He was the one. What did Jesus do? Let’s read this lesson in Luke 7:19-23. “And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” The report that Jesus told the two disciples was Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1. Now, in this, John had to, by faith, believe the evidence he already had from his own experiences with Jesus. Then putting together, the evidence the two disciples went out and brought back for John, along with the Scriptures he had learnt. Only by putting together all the evidence, John would have received peace of mind and been able by faith, know that Jesus was the one, because of the truth and evidence John already knew, he would have seen the fulfilment of the scriptures. He would have, now by faith, known that Jesus was the one they were looking for, the one to come “… the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John1:29.
Using this example of how Jesus answered John, we too can come to God and through Jesus we will be guided to the truth by the Spirit of God. If we rely on man to tell us what we want to know, and we never go to God and the scriptures to see for ourselves, we will never truly know the truth. Nor will we have the truth by faith of the Scriptures, because our evidence was not of our learning of the Scriptures, but from man.
Would there be only few; who will take all to the LORD? I pray that we all will take what is known to us, as new light, to the LORD in prayer, with sincerity of heart, only allowing Him, God, to be the One to guide us. Know, when we go to the LORD with all sincerity of heart, to learn and know the truth, in His time, your eyes will be truly opened to the truth, by the one who gave us the Scriptures. God said, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3.
Open The Light Studies 